MEDITATION TIPS for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
February 16, 2025

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7)

　The world of humans consists of dualities such as good and evil, light and darkness, birth and decay, heaven and earth, blessing and curse, and happiness and unhappiness (Luke 6:20-26). The themes of blessing and curse, happiness and unhappiness can be expressed in our daily lives as “abundance” and “lack.” However, the teachings of the Bible concern the heart—it’s all about our mindset, not about money or material things. It is our heart that determines blessing and curse, happiness and unhappiness.

　“Do not lament what you do not have; rejoice in what you have. That is the true wisdom,” said the ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus. Cultivating a grateful heart shifts our focus from “what we lack” to “what we have” in our daily lives, making us aware of the blessings we already receive. Life is interesting in that once we focus on what we are grateful for, we stop caring about what we do not have. In fact, most people do not realize that they already possess what they desire—love, freedom, and bonds with others.

　There are two main kinds of mindsets: the “consciousness of abundance” and the “consciousness of lack.” If we cultivate a consciousness of abundance and rejoicing in what we have, we can find infinite possibilities for growth. Conversely, a consciousness of lack, is rooted in negative thinking, and no matter what we do, we never get enough, and we end up in a cycle of complaints. The biggest factor leading to a consciousness of lack is, in fact, a lack of gratitude.

　“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle,” said Einstein. Ultimately, life is either about being grateful every day for the many blessings we receive as if they were miracles, or viewing life as a series of meaningless coincidences that mean nothing. In this sense, gratitude can be considered the highest form of thinking. Gratitude brings about an excitement that is full of amazement, and because of that, it doubles our happiness. Therefore, it is not joy that leads to gratitude but gratitude that leads to joy.

　“Piglet noticed that even though she had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” (from Winnie the Pooh). “Winnie the Pooh” is very popular not only with children but also with adults. The reason for this is that a wonderful wisdom and love, which are necessary for living, are beautifully expressed in the work. That is what “Gratitude” is all about.

 　　　　　(Contribution by Father Yutaka Akabae)